Rotary shrinker



`une 2, 1925 l 1,540,321

J. L. FERGUSON ROTARY SHRINKER Fiied Jan. 17, 1921 'r sheets-sheet 1 June 29 1925. I 1,540,321

J. l.. FERGUSON ROTARY SHRINKER Filed Janjlv, 1921 'r sheets-slwcA 2 June 2, 1925.

J.L.FERGUSON ROTRY SHRINKER 7 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 17, 1921 J. L. FERG'USO N r June 2, 1925.

ROTARY SHRINKER Filed Jan. 17, 1921 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Fume 2, E925.

J. L. FERGUSON .ROTARY SHRINKER '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 17, 1921 J. L. FERGUSQN ROTARY SHRINKER Filed Jan. 17, 1921 'T'SheeiSSheeWii` 6 `Ymte 2, 1925.

J. L. FERGUSON ROTARY SHRINKER `Patented .lune 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. FERGUSON, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE QUAKER OATS COMPANY,

0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

ROTARY sHmNxnn.

Application led January 17, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Shrinkers, of whichv the following is a full, clear, concise, and enact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention' relates to packaging machines and it has especial relation to inachines of the 'character designated wherein package ca s are fitted tightly upon package bodies )y conforming means which operate upon the packages after the caps haveI been initially loosely placed upon the bodies. y p

More particularly my invention relates to machines wherein the caps are shrunk unto, or made to conform to, the package bodies byenveloping the capped pack-l age, to a predetermined degree, b tracting means.

package having a cap fitting down over the outside of the ...package body, it is to be understood that the machine may also function, as hereinafter described, when the cap is set inside of the body, and presents eitler `its convex or concave portion outwardly.

As will hereinafter appear, my machine embodies means which operate to so* shrink tight fitting caps upon package bodies and this is particularly true with respect to packages made from paste-board or analogous materials. If the caps are made as tight. fitting asl may ultimately be desired, the time consumed, by such labor as is Be it known that I, JOHN L. FERGUSON,

While I will hereinafter describe my machine as operating upon a Serial No. 437,729.

usually empleyed on the assembly of these packages, in` fitting such tight caps over the package bodies is somewhat excessive.

The usual practice, therefore, is to so construct the caps .that they may be positioned on the bodies without unduly forcing the operation. As a result the caps are `somewhat'loose-iitting and, although they do not fall oli' during the packing operation, their failure to tit the package bodies tighty does contribute markedly yto certain difficulties experienced when a sealing label is applied to the capped package to firmly secure vthe body and the cap portions together. InV

.otl'ier-words, when the caps are applied, as

they usually are in the present practice and not smoothed down or made to conform very closely with the body of the package, the sealing label which is subsequently applied must be subjected to a rather streni nous stretching and pressing process in order to pull the same into place and thereby overcome the inequalities in package i diameter which are occasioned by the application of loose caps to the package bodies.

It is one of the objects of my invention, therefore, to so operate upon the caps, after their initial positioning, that they are smoothed down and conformed accurately to the body of the package whereby substantially no inequality between the diameter of the package body and that of the package cap is present. The sealing label may then be applied to the package without the necessity of smoothing or stretching the same to properly secure the caps.

and package body together.

As I have`above indicated, however, my process of shrinkingi` and conforming the cap to the body portion of the package results in a Very desirable tight fitting joint` irrespective of whether or nota label is thereafter applied to seal the cap and body together. As I will hereinafter point out. if the cap is of the internal character, my shrinking means will so operate upon the package that the cap and body are shrunk together and a desirable tight joint formed theiebetween.

Again, the specific form, which is utilized point in the packaging of materials, or in the making of sea ed packages, is particularly advantageous in that the heat whichis imparted to the package dui-in the shrinking process becomes a valuab e adjunct when the sealing label is applied to the It is the usual practice to apply the sealing label to the packages immediately after the caps have been posi'- tioned thereupon.

Moreover, it has been necessary hereto'- fore to place the packages in a drier in order to cause the adhesive, which is used to secure the sealing label to the package, to dry as rapidly as 1s neceitated by manufacturing considerations. When my improved machine, however, is employed at one point in the packaging of materials the need for drying the adhesive after application of the label is eliminated. I find that the heat, which remains in the package after the shrinking rocess is employedfis sufiicient to uic y dry the adhesive upon the label whidh is applied thereto. The temperature of packages treated in accordance with my process is raised to such a pointthat the drying of the adhesive upon the sealing label is so facilitated that asubstantial gain in time is made and the packaging process rendered substantially continuousfrom the time of the filling of the packages until they are shipped, there bcing noneed to subject the completed and sealed packages to a drying atmosphere.

Again, the use of a shinking process to firmly secure the caps to the package bodies does not necessitate a special treatment of the caps inasmuch as I treat the material, from which said caps are punched, with a substance which preventstheir sticking to the-punching mechanism.y The presence of this substance in the package walls renders the same shrinkable whereby it will be observed that I have utilized an element, which is already necessarily present, to facilitate a desirable method of packaging whereby a substantially continuous process ensues.

Various other objects of my invention will appear, and will be very fully described and pointed out, in the following descripvtion of the construction and operation of a machine embodying my invention.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings; in which, v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of amachine embodying my invention and taken from one corner thereof;

Fig. A2 is likewise a perspective vlew of the machine showny in Fig. 1, but taken from the diagonally opposite corner of said machine;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional-view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational sectional view taken on the line#- 5,-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentar sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of ig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, illustratin the manner in which an electrical connection in my machine is effected;

Fig. 9 isl a fragmentary view of another portion of my machine; and A Figs. 10 are fragmentary, sectional views through the ends of packages illustrating the three ways in whlch ca s ma be positioned with respect to ac age bodies. Referring more particu arly to the drawings, I have shown, for convenience only,

machine as mounted upon a base 20.

m Mtyiunted on this base are standards 21-21 which have'attached thereto journalled portions 22-22, a shaft 23 being supported between said portions 22.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 23 are-plates or disc-like members 2li- 24, the latter being perforated circumferentially thereof (as best shown in Fig. 9), in order to provide the mounting thereupon of sleeves 25. The sleeves when so mounted extend through the openings in the plates 24 and provide bearing members whereby certain elements may be reciprocated perpendicularly through said plates. As shown, these sleeves have a flange 25* formed thereabout whereby the sleeves themselves may be mounted normally to the fplane of the plates 24. The outer edges o comprise gear teeth 26 whereby the plates comprise gear wheels, for purpose to be hereinafter described. A

Referring now to Fig. 4, the plates 2lare mounted in o osed relation upon the shaft 23 and it w11 be understood that the sleeves 25 are so mounted on the plates that they are paired, that is, those on one plate are perpendicular-ly opposite those on the other plate. Contractlng or shrinking heads 27 ha\'e formed integrally therewith a hollon7 stem 28 which is adapted to slideaxially along the sleeves 25. `The heads comprise hollow-walled, cup-shaped members, an electrical resistance element 29 being disposed annularly about the inner wall of the head 27.

A gripping head 30 is associated with each of the shrinking heads and it will be understood that, because of the positioning of the sleeves, heretofore pointed out, these gripping heads 30 and the cup-shaped the plates 24 are formed to ping member 30 is of such dimensions that the caps 27 may pass thereover and envelop the heads 30.

Formed integrally with the journal portions 22 are annular members 32 which are, of course, stationary in character. Secured to, and supported by, these member 32 are annular cams 33,whose planes are substantially parallel to the planes of the plates 24, but which are formed sinuously or odset, as shown, to cause a reciprocating movement ot' certain parts which are mounted perpendicularly thereto and are revolved circumferentially thereabout. Secured to the cams 33 are other cams 34 which are likewise annular in character and have ofset portions for particular purposes. These latter cams are mounted outside of the cams 3 3 and ma be formed integrally therewith, if sodesire The sleeves 25 are slotted at 35 to permit of the extension of the cams 33 and 34 therethrough. It will be noted that this slotted portion is long enough to provide for the oiset portions of the cams 33 moving therein without tending to move said sleeves.

The hollow stems, 28 are recessed at 36 so that they t snugly over the annular cam 33 While recesses 37 in the stems 31 tit over the cam 34. In order to prevent the turning of the stems` 31 and the consequent disengagement of the recesses .37 and the cam 34, as well as to prevent the disengagement of the cam 33 with the recesses 36 by the turning of the hollow stems 28, pins 38 eX-' tend upwardly through longitudinal slots 28,b and 25b cut in the stems 28 and the sleeves 25, respectively. This positioning of the pin 38 prevents the movement of the stems 28 and 31 in any direction except .axially of the sleeves 25.

As before pointed out, the cams 33 and34 are stationary whereas the plates 24, together with the heads and sleeves mounted thereupon, are -rotarily movable because of their positioning upon the shaft 23. It follows, therefore, that, when the stems 28 and 31 are rotated about the cams 33 and 34, the former will be reciprocated, because of the offset portions of the cams. In Fig. 4, the shrinking caps and the gripping heads or' the associated pair at the top of the ligure are shown in their open position or that position in which said heads and caps are furthest from the center line of the drum forinedby the opposed plates. If now the drum is rotated the heads will Iirst be moved towards one another byreason of the engagement of the slots 37 with the cams 34. It will be observed that this movement is relatively slight, the extreme inward or closed position of these heads being shown in the pair at the bottom of the figure. That is, the movement of these heads is just suicient to grip the ends of an object which .is placed therebetween. Considering now the shrinking caps 27 and the manner in which they are moved by the engagement of the slot in the hollow stem 28 with the cam 34, it will be noted that the movement imparted to the heads 27 by the rotation of the plates 24' about the cam 33 is considerably greater than the movement `imparted to the gripping heads30 by the cam 3 4. The extreme inward position of these heads is likewise shown in the pair of elements at the bottom of the figure and it will be observed that the headshave moved over and enveloped the gripping heads, whereby any object which is held between said gripping heads has the ends thereof surrounded by two of the heated shrinking or contracting heads 27. The closed pair of heads at the bottom of the machine are shown as gripping a package which is being operated upon.

In the drawing, I have illustrated the contrac-ting heads as moving over the package ends in an enveloping manner only and thereafter contracting the caps` by heat` alone. Should it be desired to contract the caps by physical contact with the contracting head, this may, of course, be arranged for by properly dimensioning the enveloping cap whereby it comes into contact with the package cap as it (the machine ca is moved thereover and operates to physically iron down the cap onto the body of the package.

I will next describe the apparatus and mechanism whereby packages are conveyed into the proper position to be gripped by the gripping heads 30 as well as that apparatus whereby the packages, after the caps have been shrunk thereupon are ejected, at a predetermined point, from the drum formed by the lates 24.

Referring to "igs. 1, 3, 5 and 6 a pair of inverted U-shaped frames 39 are mounted upon the base 2O in such a way that they substantially straddle the drum. Attached to the upper portions of these frames is one end of a conveyor 40which comprises a chain 41 upon which are mounted triangular retaining members 42, the ends of the latter sliding along stationary angle irons 43, as best shown in Fig. 1. Guiding members 44 are positioned at the side of the conveyor and slightly above the carrying member 42 ot said conveyor. It will be understood that the packages, by reason of the inclination of the conveyor, are carried upwardly by the triangular member 42.- The ends of said packages are rolled along the irons 43 and are guided by the members 44.

Rollers 45-45 are so arranged that they press against the ends of packages which pass therebetween and thus operate to force the caps, which have been initially positioned, firmly unto the body portion of the packages. At the same time, these rollers function to accurately predetermine the length of the packages which are supplied to the shrinking machine.

The highest point of the package conveyor is at 46. From this point the packages roll downwardly along the incline surface 47 and between guiding elements 48-48, finally coming in contact with a member 49 which shunts them downwardly toward the package gripping heads, heretofore described. Mounted on the shaft 23 is a spider 50 which has formed, around the outer circumference thereof, a plurality of package cradling members 51 in the form of segments of a cylinder. Referring to Fig. 5

it will be apparent that a. package after being shunted downwardly by the member 49 will drop onto the spider and be` cradled between two of the members 51. While so cradled the package is accurately positioned with respect to the gripping heads, and it is further to be understood that the closing movement of the gripping heads takes place while the package is so cradled between two of the members 51 at substantially the highest point of the drum.

The drum travels in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 5 by the arrow. The packages are, therefore, carried from the top of the drumraround to a point at ages are released the combined action of the members 5l and the rotation of the machine is such that the packages are ejected and forced to roll downwardly along a surface 52, as shown in Fig. 2. Another conveyor 53 comprising a chain 54 and the triangular pieces 55 attached thereto, then picks up the ackages and conveys them away, usual y, as before intimated, to a labeling machine wherein a sealing label is wrapped about the package in such manner that the cap is sealed to package body. It may, of

course, be desirable to allow the packages to drop from the machine upon their release by the gripping and shrinking heads, and I do not wish to limit myself, therefore, to the showing of the off-bearing conveyor 52 illustrated in Fig. 5. It is desirable, however, to maintain the packages in contact with the shrinking heads during the longest feasible time and thereafter throughout as large a portion of the circumference of the drum as possible.

Referring now to the manner in which the shrinking caps are heated, it will be observed, particularly in Fig. 3, that the leads pass along a conduit 56 and are connected to a brush holder 57, the brush 58 in the latter bearing upon a slip-ring 59 which is annularly disposed about a hub portion 60 by means of which one of the plates 24 is secured to the shaft 23. From the slipring 59 the leads 61 are carried to annular conduits 62 mounted on the sleeves 25. From these conduits individual leads 63 are connected to each of the shrinking heads 27. A binding piece 64 being utilized to effect the connection between the leads 63 and resistance elements 29. The main leads are carried through a conduit 65 from one plate to another as shown in Fig. 4, and the connections to the heads mounted on the plate opposite to that onewhich carries the slip ring are elected in a manner analogous to that above described. y

As a convenient means of driving the drum and associated conveying apparatus I have shown a motor 66 from which a belt 67 extends to a pulley 68, the latter being mounted upon a shaft 69. A gear wheel 7 0 is pinned to the latter shaft and serves to drive a shaft 71 through a gear wheel 72. On the shaft 71 are keyed small gear wheels 7 3 7 3 which meshl with the teeth 26 formed on the outer circumference of the plates 24. The gear 26 meshes with a small gear 74 which, through bevel gearing 75, turns the rollers 45. At the same time a chain and sprocket connection 76 drives the conveyor chain 41.

Having described a machine .embodying my invention, the operation thereof and the f manner in which a desirable continuity of production is obtained thereby, will now bedescribed.

As I have above indicated, the caps, or under some conditions, the body portions, of the packages are formed by punching and I so treat the material from which these package portions are formed that they do not tend to adhere to the forming mechanism. The material of these same portions is therefore rendered shrinkable. The caps are placed upon the package bodies and, inasmuch as a tight fit is not provided for,

no diliculty is experienced nor is an excessive amount of time consumed in loosely placing such caps upon the bodies. The packages are then placed upon their sides on theI conveyor 40 and are rolled upwardly therealong by the bearing of the pieces 42 against the packages. As the packages pass .between the rollers 45 the caps yare pressed on and the length of the packages positively a ed. g t should be understood that in preparing caps, as is the usual practice, by punching, they may be more or less mutilated at times or may not lit accurately. As the packages pass over the top of the conveyor 40 they are fed into the drum one by one by the guiding member 49 and are cradled on the portions .5l ofthe slowly rotating drum. The heads or shrunk so that the excess diameter or slight mutilation thereofl is, as it were, ironed out so that the cap conforms very closely, and 1s substantially equal 1n diameter. to the diameter of the body. This treat- (lll ment of the caps may be effected wholly by heat or the caps lnay be of such configuration that they serve to slightly press the cap edges against the body as they pass over the same. After the shrinking heads have been maintained in enveloping relation with the packaging ends for substantially threefourths of the revolution of the drum, the cam 33 so functions that the shrinking heads arr` withdrawn from said relation. Thereafter the cam 3a operates to retract the gripping heads 30 whereupon the package is released and, because of the members 51 and the rotation of the drum, rolls out into the conveyor 53.

As I have above indicated, the temparature of the packages is being raised, during the shrinking process, to such a point that, when the sealing label is applied thereto, the adhesive upon said label dries very rapidly. At the same time the package presents a smooth cylindrical surface by reason of the ironing-out process to which the caps have been subjected, whereby the scaling label maiv be applied thereto much as it would be applied to a perfectly smooth surface. In other words, no stretching or smoothinVlr of this label is now necessary because all o the surface inequalities, which have heretofore necessitated such stretching and pulling, have been eliminated by the shrinking process.

From the above description of the operation of my machine it will be apparent that all of the desired operations which I have set forth, are performed entirely automatically and by a machine wherein the automatic operations are accomplished with a minimum number of parts. As I have intimated hereinbefore, it is not necessary that a ymachine embodying my invention be limited in its use to packages wherein the caps. overlie the body portion or, in other words, wherein the lips of the caps are exterior t0 the bodies.

In Fig. 10, I have shown, in cross section, a variety of ways in which caps may be associated with package bodies. The first diagram shown is that of a package such as I have hereinbefore discussed as operated upon in my machine. However, should this cap be placed inside the bod portion as illustrated in the second sketc i, the operation of the machine would be justas effective, although it would not be necessary to employ gripping heads in this connection since the cap portions would adequately retain and hold the packages during the shrinking process. Again, if the caps were inverted and the concave portion thereof presented outwardly, as indicated in the third sketch, my machine would effect the desired shrinking operation and consequent tight joint inasmuch as, instead of the cap being shrunk inwardly onto the body, the body would be conformed to the cap.

Moreover, in the foregoing I have described the operation of my machine in connection with cylindrical packages but, it will be understood that the operation thereof is exactly the same if it is desired to shrink caps on packages having other shapes, such as square packages. In any event, the shrinking caps are made to conform to the package caps whereby the latter are effectively shrunk.

In discussing my invention I have spoken of the machine as shrinking or compressing the package ends and the caps thereon to justify the outside diameters of the cap portion and of the body portion. From one point of View, the body portion under the cap will, of course, be reduced as said cap is shrunk thereupon. It will also be apparent, that, if the body portion of the package is so operated upon that it is reduced or neckedin and a cap thereafter atiixed thereto which has the same outside diameter as the outside diameter of the main body portion, a smooth surface will result. As above pointed out I so combine the package conforming operations that the cap is justified directly on the package body whereby a much-simpler and efficient method kof securingr a smooth surface is realized.

, Broadly speaking, therefore, it will be seen that my invention contemplates two distinctly novel features. I have described, I believe, the first apparatus or method of venience I have desi shrinking caps onto can bodies as distinguished from conforming caps to said bodies by utilizing mechanical pressure.

All of the rior art cap-conforming apparatus with w ich I am familiar makes use of some sort of forming device associated' with a mandrel. It is obvious that a mandrel cannot be utilized whenit is desired to cap both ends of a package and conform the caps thereto at the same time. As I have above pointed out this is one marked advantage wli'idli is obtained by the use of my invention. Inasmuch as the entire operation is carried on through the medium of heat or some other means not necessitating the actual mechanical contact of a pressing means against the packa e and cap, it is apparent that all of the di culties which are inherent when a fragile material, such as most cans are composed of, is operated upon by a pressing means, are overcome.

Moreover, inasmuch as I believe myself to be the first to suggest the use of heat, or its equivalent, in this connection, I do not wish to limit myself to the simultaneous shrinking of caps and bodies, but desire protection for the use of heat alone to shrink can bodies.

In the necking-n machines which have heretofore been employed the same diiiiculties which are above mentioned as being present when caps are mechanically pressed onto cans are met with. If it should be desired to utilize heat or an equivalent shrinking medium to neck-in package bodies before they are capped, I wish it to be understood that such an operation comes within the purview of my invention; since, as I have pointed out there does not appear to have been heretofore utilized any shrinking medium for accomplishing the reduction of the ends of can bodies.

In this particular connection I wish it also understood that while I have heretofore defined shrinkin means as utilizing heat to effect the shrin in I do not intend to limit myself to the use o heat if it should be hereafter discovered that shrinking can be accomplished through some other means. That is, I regard the essence of my invention as described, to be in the use of reducing means which operate without mechanical pressure against the cans, and for purposes of conated such means as shrinkingmeans and ave described them as utilizing heat to perform the shrinking. If some other means should-be hereafter advanced for performing the reduction of cans and caps wlthout utilizing mechanical pressure and operate. in the same manner as my means, which I have above designated as shrinking means, it is to be understood that such operation is within the purview of my invention.

ating on the The, second broad aspect which will appear as novel from the above description, is the reduction of the can body, or the smoothlng out of the end-to-end surface thereof after the package is capped. This is a distinct departure in the art, since it has been usual heretofore either to first neck-in the can body and then apply a cap to it, or endeavor to form the cap upon the can body simultaneously with a reduction in the end of said body. This latter method of operation results'in a cap havin a lip which is wedged-shaped in cross section, such cap interlitting with a complementa wedgedshaped end of the package am aware of the existence of machines for accomplishing the latter operation but do not consider such method at all analogous to that obtainable with my machine, nor does the wedgedshaped interfitting of the package end and cap eventuate the same character of capped package. In view of the above remarks with respect to my belief that I am the first to propose the reduction of the package ends after the package has Vbeen capped, I wish it understood that I am claiming the same broadly.

Finally, it will be observed, from the above descriptlon, thata new article of manufacture is obtained which comprises a capped package having the outside transverse dimensions of the cap and the body portion so equalized that an unbroken or uniplanar` surface extends from end to end of said package and permits the wrapping of a label thereabout without necessitating the Pulling and stretchin of said label to prevent wrinkling of t e same.

While I have illustrated but one machine embodying my invention it is obvious that many modifications therein may occur to those skilled in the art and I desire, therefore, that the same be limited only by the showing of the prior art and by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I c aim as new and desire-to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotary drum and a plurality of capped-package shrinking devices associated therewith. A

2. In a machine, packageY gripping means, and heat radiating shrinking means operpackages while carriedA by the gripping means.

3. In a machine, means for receiving and retaining' capped packages, and' means 'for shrinking thecaps on said packages while so retained.

4. In a machine, means for pressing the caps toward the body' portion of the package, and means for thereafter shrinking said caps tightly on said body portion.

5. In a machine, avrotarydrum, a plu- 1,540,321 v j I7 ing and closing said gripping heads to receive and discharge a package, means forv moving said shrinking heads over thecaps and for retaining the same in said position during a predetermined travel of said drum, and means for heating said shrinking heads.

(S. In a machine, a rotary drum, a plurality of shrinking heads mounted thereon, gripping heads positioned within said shrinking heads and adapted to move independently thereof, means for opening and closing said gripping heads to receive and discharge apackage, means ,for movlng said shrinking heads over the caps and for ,retaining thesame in said position during a predetermined travel of said drum, and means for heating said shrinking heads.

7 In a machine, shrinking means, and means for automatically positioning said shrinking means over the capped ends of packages.

8. In -a machine, shrinking means, and means for automatically positioning said shrinking means for a predetermined time over the capped ends of packages.

9. In a machine, shrinking means, means for automatically positioning said shrinking means over the ends of packages, anc means for releasing and ejecting said shrunk packages from said machine.

10. In a machine, cap adjusting means, and means operating to shrink the caps on the packages after said adjustment. j

11. In a machine, cap adjusting means, means operating to shrink the caps on the packages after said adjustment, and means for ejecting the packages from said machine after the caps have been shrunk thereupon.

12. In a machine, shrinking means, and length determining means for a capped package acting upon said packages prior to the functioning of vsaid shrinking means.

13. In a machine, shrinking means, package holding means, and means for causing said shrinking means to envelop, to a predetermined degree. said package.

l-i. In a machine. means for conforming the cap portions of packages to the body portions thereof, and meansfor feeding capped packages to said first means.

15. ln a machine, a plurality of means vtor conforming the cap portions of packages to the body portions thereof, and means synchronized with said first means for feedingcapped packages to the latter at the proper times.

1G. In a machine, means comprising a plurality of contracting means arranged about a circumference for conforming the cap portions of packages to the body portions thereof, and means for feeding capped packages to consecutively positioned contracting means.

17. In a machine, means for conforming the cap portions of packages to the body portions thereof, means for feeding capped packages to said first means, and means for causing said conforming means to move into registry with said supply means at predetermined times.

18. In a machine, means comprising a plurality of contractin means for'conforming the cap portions o packages to the body portions thereof, means for supplying packages to said first means, and means for movmg said contracting means successively into registry with said supply means.

19. In a machine, a member adapted for rotary movement, means mounted on said rotary member and comprising a plurality of contracting means for conforming the cap portions of packages to the body portions thereof, means for supplying packages to said first means, and means for moving said contracting means successively into registry with said supply means.

20. In a machine, means comprising a plurality of contracting means for conforming the cap portions of packages to the body portions thereof, means for supplying packages to said first means, means for moving said contracting means successively into registry with said supply means, and means for independently moving said contracting means into operative relation with the packages as fed.

21. In a machine, means comprising a plurality of contracting means for conforming the cap portions of packages to the body portions thereof, means for supplying packages to said first means, and means for setting said contracting means to permit. the association of packages therewith, for bringing said means into operative relation with the packages, and for again moving said means to release one package and receive another.

22. In a machine, a movable member, contractingmeansmounted on said member, and means comprising ast-ationary member cooperating with the contracting means to canse the latter to properly act upon packages fed to the machine.

23. In a machine, a rotary drum, a plurality of contracting means mounted onsaid drum, and a stationary cam-like member cooperating with said means to move them into and out of operative relation with packages fed to said machine.

24. In a machine, a rotary drum, a plurality of contracting means mounted on said drum, and a stationary cam-like member cooperating with said meansto movesuccessive contracting means reaching a predetermined point in the travel of said drum into position to receive a package and for releasing said packages at another point.

25. In a machine, means for receiving capped packages, contracting means for conforming the caps to the body portions of the packages, and means forv moving said contracting means from the point of receipt to a delivery point during said conforming process.

26. In a machine, a plurality of means for receiving capped packages, contracting means for conforming the caps to the body portions of thev packages, and means for so moving said contracting means that there is a continuous movement of packages from the point of receipt to a delivery point during the contracting process.

27. In a machine, means for continuously progressing capped packages from one point to another, and contracting means operating on said packages during said movement.

28. In a machine, means for continuously progressing packages from one, point to another, means for moving said packages about a circumference during said movement, and means for acting on said pack- -ages to conform the caps thereupon to the body portions during said circumferential movement whereby the latter operation is performed without affecting the continuity of movement of the packages from point to point.

29. In a machine, means for continuously progressing packages from one point to another, means for moving said packages about a circumference during said movement, comprising gripping means arranged by pairs, one means of each pair being mounted on opposed members, the package being fed to said means at a predetermined point on said circumference, and means for acting on said packages to conform the ca s thereupon to the body portions during said circumferential movement whereby the latter operation. is performed without affecting the continuity of movement of the packages from point to point.

30. In a machine, a/supporting frame, a drum mounted for rrotation on said frame, package cap contracting means mounted on said drum, means for so moving said drum that said contracting means are brought successively to a point of capped-package supply, aud means associated with said drum to assist in positioning the packages in proper relation to said contracting means.

31. In a machine, a supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation on said frame, package-contracting means mounted on said drum and adapted for movement substantially perpendcularly thereto to grip and act on packages, and stationary means cooperating with the contracting means to move the latter into gripping and operative relation with packages.

32. In a machine, a supporting frame, a drum mounted for` rotation on said frame, package-contracting means comprising ackage gripping means and shrmking eads mounted on said drum and ada ted for movement normal to the plane of t e drum, a stationary cam member for controlling the time and extent of movement of said gripping means and shrinking heads, and means operatively connecting said cam member and said gripping means and shrinking heads.

33. In a machine, a supporting` frame, a drum mounted for rotation on said frame, package contracting means comprising package gripping means and shrinking heads mounted on said drum and adapted for movement normal to the plane of the drum, and stationary cam members operatively associated with said gripping means and shrinking heads to cause the grippers to first engage a package placed therebetween and to thereafter position vsaid shrinking heads to operate on said package.

34. In a machine, a frame, a-drum comprising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, means comprising gripping and shrinking heads mounted on, and adapted for movement normal to, said plates, said heads being secured .to stems extending through the plates, and cam means cooperating with said stems to cause the grippersto first engage a package placed therebetween and to there- .after position said shrinking heads to operate on said package.

35. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, means comprising gripping heads positioned within, and moving independently of, enveloping members, both the enveloping members and heads being provided with stems extending through said plates, and cams cooperating with said stems u on the movement of the drum to move sai enveloping members and heads in proper sequence as dictated by the recei t or ejectment of a package from said mac ine.

36. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, means comprising gripping heads ositioned within, and moving .independent y of, enveloping members, both the enveloping members and heads being vprovided with stems extending through said plates, cams cooperating with said stems u n the movement of the drum to move said enveloping members and heads in proper sequence as dictated by the receipt or ejectment of a package from said machine, and means associated with said drum for holding said received package in proper position to be gripped and for assisting in ejectlng said package when the same 1s released.

37. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, means comprising gripping heads positioned within, and moving independently of, enveloping members, both the envelopmg members and heads being rovided with stems extending through sai plates, cams cooperating with said stems upon the movement of the drum to move said enveloping members and heads in proper sequence as dictated by the receipt or ejectment of a package from said machine, and. means comprising package cradles to positron the 1ncoming packages while they are gripped by the heads, said cradle members being mounted on said shaft.

38. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, means comprising gripping heads positioned within, and moving independently of, enveloping shrinking members, both the shrinking members and heads being provided with stems extending through said plates, 'cams cooperating with said stems upon the movement of the drum to move said shrinking members and heads in proper sequence as dictated by the receipt or ejectment of a package from said machine, and a member mounted on said shaft intermediately of said plates and formed to comprise cradles cooperating with each pair of heads for holding said received package in proper position to be gripped and for assisting in ejecting said package when the same is re leased.

39. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, means comprising gripping heads positioned within, and moving independently of,envel oping; shrinking members, both the shrinking members and heads being provided with stems extending through said plates, and cams cooperating with said stems, upon the: nio-vement of the drum, to move said shrink:- ing members and heads toward the interior of' said drum at predetermined points: in the travel of the latter to cause said heads to grip a package placed therebetween and to cause said shrinking members to envelop, to a predetermined degree, said package.

40. In a machine, a frame.. a drum comprising opposed disk orplate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, means comprising gripping heads positioned within, and moving independently of, e11- veloping shrinking members` both the enveloping members and heads being provided with stems extending through said plates, and cams cooperating with said stems upon the movement of the drum to move said enveloping members and heads toward the interior of said drum at predetermined points in the travel of the latter to cause opposed heads to bear against opposite ends of a package to hold the same, and at the same time, admit of the enveloping package ends by said shrinking means.

4l. In a machine, ay frame, a drum comprising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, a plurality of sleeves mounted on said plates, contracting means comprising a portion fitting, and adapted to slide, in said sleeves, gripping means having a portion sliding within said contracting means, and a cam member engaging both said gripping and said contracting means.

42. In a machine, a frame, a drum compising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a shaft joui-nailed in the frame, a plurality of sleeves mounted on said plates. contracting means comprising a cap and a hollow stem attached thereto, said stem sliding in said sleeve, gripping means comprising a head and a stem sliding within said hollow contracting-means stem, and a cam having two directive surfaces, one engaging the contracting-means stem and the other engaging the ripping-means stem to move said caps an heads toward the center of said drum, for the purpose described.

43. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a sha'ft journalled in the frame, a plurality of sleeves mounted on, and having axes substantially normal to, said plates, contracting means comprising a ca and a 4hollow stem attached thereto, sald stem sliding in said sleeve, gripping means conprising a head and a stem sliding Within said hollow contracting means stem, and a cam having two directive surfaces, said sleeves being apertured to receive said cams while said stems tit over and are moved by said cams, when said drum is given a rotary motion.

44.` In a machine, a frame, a drum comprising opposed disk or plate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, a plurality of sleeves mounted on said plates, contracting means comprising a cap and a hollow stem attached thereto, said stem sliding in said sleeve, gripping means comprising a head and a stem sliding within to move sald 'caps an .center of said drum, for the the center of said drum, for the described.

'45. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprising opposed disk or' plate members mounted on a shaft journalled in the frame, a plurality of sleeves mounted on said plates, contracting means comprising a cap and a hollow stem attached thereto, said stem sliddescribed,l and means `precluding t e disengagement of the cams andthe stems."

446. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprising vopposed disk or plate members mounted ona shaft journalled in the frame,

a plurality-of sleeves mounted on said plates, and a contracting means comprising a ca hollow stem attached thereto, sa1d stem sliding in said sleeve, grippin means comprising a head and a stem siding within said. hollow contracting means stem, cams comprising concentrically ,disposed annular members, the planesof which are substantially parallel to the plane of said plates,

Aone engaging the contracting-means stem and the other en aging the gripping-means.

stem to move sai caps and headstoward the p center of said drum for the purpose described, and means comprising a pin attached in the ri ping-head stem and extendin throug s ots 1n the cap stems and said s eeves .to prevent the movement of said stems in any direction except axially of the sleeves and in the plane of the slot whereby the disengagement of thecams and the stems is precluded.

47. In a machine, a frame, a Adrum comprising opposed late members mounted on a sha t, means or driving said plates to rotate said drum, means mounted on said plate to hold and operate on packages while said drum is rotated, means for supplying packages to said drum, means adapted to ear against the ends of packages so supplied to lgage the length thereof,and means governed by the relative rotation of said drum for moving said mounted means into operative relation with said packages.

48. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprisin opposed late members mounted on a shat, means or driving said plates to rotate said drum, means mounted on said plate to hold and operate on packages While said drum is rotated, conveyor means for supplying packages to said drum, rollers at the side of said conveyor to bear against the ends of packages passing along 'said purpose urpose successively present contractin conveyor to press caps on the packages, and means governed by the relative rotation of saiddrum for moving said mounted means into operative relation with said packages.

49. In a machine, a frame, a drum comprisin opposed late members mounted on a sha t, means or driving said plates to rotate said drum,` means mounted -on said plate to hold and operate on packages while said drum is rotated, conveyor means for supplying ackages to said drum, rollers at the side of) said conveyor to bearp against the ends of packages passing along said conveyor, means for driving said rollers at the same speed as that at which the packy ages are moved by said conveyor whereby the caps are pressed 'into the bodies but no transverse movement of the former is caused and means governed by the relative rotation of said drum for moving said mounted means into operative relation with said packages.

50. In a machine, a frame,.a drum comprising opposed plate members mounted on a shaft, means for rotating-said drum, means for feeding packa esto saiddrum, means mounted on said p ates to hold and o erate on the packages fed, means for initially positionin said packages upon entry to the drum to a low them to be roperly gripped,

and means cooperating wit said last named means whereby the packages are ejected from the drum when released.

51. In a machine, a base, shaft sup orting members mounted thereupon, a rum mounted on a shaft journalled in said members', inverted U-shaped members mounted on said base and straddling said drum, and

conveyor meansl attached to said U-shaped members.

52. In a machine, a base, shaft supporting members mounted thereupon, a drum adapted to receive packages mounted on a shaft journalled in said members, inverted U- shaped members mounted on said basel and straddling said drum, conveyor means attached to said U-shaped members, and guide members for directing the packages supplied by the conveyor to the proper point within said drum.

. 53. In a machine, a base,shaft supporting members mounted thereupon, a drum e mounted on a shaft journalled in said members, said drum comprising means Vfor contracting portions of packages fed thereto, inverted U-shaped members mounted on said base and straddling said drum, conveyor means attached to said U-'shaped members for ysupplying packages to vsaid drum, and means for moving said drum to means to a package as the latter is supp ied by said conveyor.

54. In a machine, a base, shaft supporting members mounted'thereupon. a drum mounted on a shaft journalled in said members, said drum comprising heating means for contracting portions of packages fed to said drum, means for supplying heating current to each of said means comprising a main conduit, individual leads .to each contracting means, and a slip rino' contact.

55. In a machine, a base, shaft sup orting members mounted thereupon, a rum comprising opposed plates mounted on` a shaft journalled in said members, said drum comprising electrical heating means for contracting portions of packages fed to said drum, an annular conduit mounted on each plate to carry Wires, leads therefrom to each of said contracting means, a sli ring connected to said conduits, and a rush bearing on the latter and connected to a source of supply.

56. A shrinking cap comprising a cupshaped member and heating means associated with said member for contracting an article positioned therewith.

57. A shrinking cap comprising a hollowwalled cup-shaped member and heating. means positioned within said wall.

58. A shrinking cap comprising a hollow Walled cup-shaped member and heating means comprising an electrical resistance member.

59. Means for holding and contracting packages comprising a shrinking cap and a gripping member adapted to be moved independently of said cap, the latter member being positioned within the concave portion of said cap.

60. Means for holding and contracting packages comprising a shrinking cap and a gripping member adapted to be moved independently-of said cap, the latter member comprising a plate adapted to be protruded beyond said cap to bear against the end of a package which has been moved into position transversely of the cap face, the cap being adapted to thereafter movel over and envelop a portion of the package.

61. The method -of closing a, package which comprises applying a shrinkable cap thereto and thereafter shrinking said cap onto the package body.

62. The method of closing a package which comprises applying` a shrinkable cap thereto and thereafter shrinking said cap onto the package body by the application of heat alone.

63. The method of closing a package 'which comprises applying a shrinkable cap thereto, shrinking said cap onto the package body, and thereafter applying a sealing label to said package whereby the adhesive upon the label is dried by the heat imparted to the package during the cap shrinking process.

64. The method of facilitating the closurev of capped packages which consists in iniage whereb the adhesive upon the latter is dried rapi ly by said heated package.

65. The method of facilitating the clo- -V sure of capped packages which consists in initially rendering shrinkable the material from which 4the caps are made, applying said caps to package bodies, heating the capped packages whereby said caps are closely fitted thereonto and thereafter utilizingthe heat imparted to said packageto dry the adhesive upon labels applied to said packages.

66. The method of equalizin the outside transverse dimensions of a ody package portion and a cap package portion to cause the finished capped package to present a smooth, end-to-end, surface which comprises simultaneously reducing the end of the body portion and a cap p ortion 'fitted on said end of the body.

67. The method of equalizing the outside transverse dimensions of a body package portion and a cap package portion to cause the finished capped package to present a smooth, end-to-end surface which comprises placing a cap on said body portion and thereafter reducing the package end so that the outside transverse dimension of the cap is equal to the outside transverse dimension of the main body portion.

68. The method of equalizing the outside transverse dimension of a body package portion and a cap package portion to cause the finished capped package to present a smooth, end-to-end surface which comprises placing a cap on said body portion and thereafter reducing the body under said cap and simultaneously reducing said cap so that the ultimate outside transverse dimension of said tightly fitting cap is equal to the outside transverse dimension of the main body portion.

69. The method of equalizing the outside transverse dimensions of a body package portion and a cap package portion to cause the finished capped package to present a smooth, end-to-end, surface which comprises placing a cap on said body portion and shrinking said cap and the end of the body thereunder so that the ultimate outside' transverse dimension of said tightly fitting cap is equal to the outside transverse dimension of the main body portion.

70. In a machine for operating on capped packages, reducing means for so justifying the outside diameter of the cap portion and the body 'that the` outside surface of the package, `from end-to-end, is uni-planar.

71. The method-df conformingcaps to a packa e* whereby a smooth end-to-end sur,

face o the capped package is obtained which consists in capping a package box and thereafter reducing the package ends to obtain said conformation.

72. The method of conforming caps to the body portion of capped packa s where- I by a smooth end-to-end complete y capped package is obtained whichv consists in initially capping the-package box and thereafter reducing both the cap and the end of the package body under said cap whereby said conformation is obtained.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub.- scribed my name.

. JOHN L. FERGUSON. Witnesses:

GEO. W. HANSEN,

A. ARNOLD BRAND. 

